molting protein

[sammy94901]

Can I feed my girls collagen powder during molting. One of my girls is walking low to the ground and looks super thin.

 

[nuthatched]

I've never considered that, I don't see why not but I'm not sure. @U_Stormcrow have you ever considered this?
but usually raising the protein of the general feed is a good start, what are you feeding them?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I've never considered that, I don't see why not but I'm not sure. @U_Stormcrow have you ever considered this?
but usually raising the protein of the general feed is a good start, what are you feeding them?

I've given it no consideration whatsoever. It sounds similar to the idea of eating unflavored gelatin to improve human hair and nails.

As you might imagine, it has no commercial value, so its not been studied (to my knowledge). However, a quick internet search turns up this discussion of the molting process, which is biologically much more complex than simple feather replacement.

 

[aart]

Can I feed my girls collagen powder during molting. One of my girls is walking low to the ground and looks super thin.

What all and how exactly do you feed?
Are any of your other birds acting poorly?

Before adding some supplement, assess just what the problem is.

This is what I do when a birds is acting 'off'.....
I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
-their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.